Nonstop flight route between Buffalo, New York, United States and Des Moines, Iowa, United States:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from BUF to DSM:
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- About this route
- BUF Airport Information
- DSM Airport Information
- Facts about BUF
- Facts about DSM
- Map of Nearest Airports to BUF
- List of Nearest Airports to BUF
- Map of Furthest Airports from BUF
- List of Furthest Airports from BUF
- Map of Nearest Airports to DSM
- List of Nearest Airports to DSM
- Map of Furthest Airports from DSM
- List of Furthest Airports from DSM
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF), Buffalo, New York, United States and Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 769 miles (or 1,237 kilometers).
A Great Circle is the shortest distance between 2 points on a sphere. Because most world maps are flat (but the Earth is round), the route of the shortest distance between 2 points on the Earth will often appear curved when viewed on a flat map, especially for long distances. If you were to simply draw a straight line on a flat map and measure a very long distance, it would likely be much further than if you were to lay a string between those two points on a globe. Because of the relatively short distance between Buffalo Niagara International Airport and Des Moines International Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
Departure Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | BUF / KBUF |
Airport Name: | Buffalo Niagara International Airport |
Location: | Buffalo, New York, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 42°56'26"N by 78°43'55"W |
Area Served: | Erie County |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 728 feet (222 meters) |
# of Runways: | 2 |
View all routes: | Routes from BUF |
More Information: | BUF Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | DSM / KDSM |
Airport Name: | Des Moines International Airport |
Location: | Des Moines, Iowa, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 41°32'2"N by 93°39'47"W |
Area Served: | Des Moines, Iowa |
Operator/Owner: | City of Des Moines |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 958 feet (292 meters) |
# of Runways: | 2 |
View all routes: | Routes from DSM |
More Information: | DSM Maps & Info |
Facts about Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF):
- Buffalo Niagara International Airport has grown significantly in recent years after the addition of several low cost carriers.
- Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) has 2 runways.
- Buffalo Niagara International Airport handled 5,118,000 passengers last year.
- The proximity of Buffalo Niagara International Airport to the 8.4 million residents of Ontario's Golden Horseshoe region makes it a very popular airport for Canadians traveling to U.S.
- The furthest airport from Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,465 miles (18,452 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Because of Buffalo Niagara International Airport's relatively low elevation of 728 feet, planes can take off or land at Buffalo Niagara International Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- In 1991 it was decided that it was no longer economically viable to keep renovating and expanding the dated terminals, and an all-new terminal was needed.
- A large Curtiss-Wright plant once existed at the Airport.
- In 2004, 2010 and in 2013, Buffalo/Niagara Int'l Airport hosted Air Force One.
- The closest airport to Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) is Niagara Falls International Airport (IAG), which is located only 16 miles (25 kilometers) NW of BUF.
Facts about Des Moines International Airport (DSM):
- Des Moines International Airport (DSM) has 2 runways.
- On December 1, 2007, a United Express plane carrying 44 passengers slid off a taxiway while taxiing to the runway for takeoff.
- The airport was originally governed by the City of Des Moines' Parks Department.
- The closest airport to Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is Ankeny Regional Airport (IKV), which is located only 12 miles (19 kilometers) NNE of DSM.
- Because of Des Moines International Airport's relatively low elevation of 958 feet, planes can take off or land at Des Moines International Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- The furthest airport from Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,789 miles (17,363 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Des Moines International Airport covers 2,625 acres at an elevation of 958 feet above mean sea level.